Theo could understand how refusing to acknowledge the truth might make George feel as though he could undo history, and why he was focusing all his anguish on a lesser target, one he could tolerate more than the death of his only son, which in this case was the fire. Theo also knew that only time would help George work through his grief, and not anything that he or anyone else had to say.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to carry on dealing with the civil servants for a while, until we decide what to do,” George said, exhaling heavily.

“That’s fine, George.”

“Rupert used to hate it, you know—used to joke that he’d rather come face-to-face with Goering than another bureaucrat,” he said, and laughed awkwardly.

“Not his favorite part of the job,” Theo suggested lightly.

“No—but then, of course, Rupert was used to getting his own way.”

Alice had given Theo that impression too, even though she’d been reluctant to talk about him.

“And what about Alice’s book?” Theo asked, hoping to change the subject.

“Well, the book is fine,” George replied. “Emily is proofreading it at the moment. But Alice hasn’t been here in days.”

Theo was startled. “Does Ursula know where she is?”

“No, she doesn’t, and we’re all getting rather worried.” He shook his head in a defeated manner.

It was worrying that not even Ursula knew where she was.

“I’m sorry, George. I wish I could have looked out for her like I promised you.”

“It’s all right, you had to be with your father.” He sighed. “I had an inkling that Rupert had feelings for her—nothing he said, but I always thought he paid her special attention. I wondered if she might become my daughter-in-law. Only now he’s not coming back.”

Theo felt a stab of jealousy at the possibility of Rupert’s feelings being reciprocated. Perhaps something had happened between the two of them that could explain why Alice was so reluctant to talk about him, and so insistent they had just been colleagues.

“And I’m particularly concerned about Alice,” George continued, “because she’s been mixing with all sorts of unsavory characters in the past few months working on this book. It’s become an obsession.”

Theo felt as if all the oxygen had left the room. Things were far more desperate than when he had left: Rupert was dead, the printers and a whole publication run had been destroyed, and Alice was missing. He’d broken his engagement with Virginia before he’d left New York because of Alice, and now he would dedicate himself to finding her.

The two men regarded each other for a moment, and Theo wondered what it would do to George if he knew of his brother’s treachery. Theo could have never done the same to Howie.